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Tanner Pearson

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Tanner Pearson
Pearson with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2024
Born (1992-08-10) August 10, 1992 (age 32)
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Vegas Golden Knights
Los Angeles Kings
Pittsburgh Penguins
Vancouver Canucks
Montreal Canadiens
NHL draft 30th overall, 2012
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 2012–present

Tanner Pearson (born August 10, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 30th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2012 NHL entry draft and won the Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2014. Pearson has also previously played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, and Montreal Canadiens.

Playing career

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Junior

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Pearson began his junior career playing for the Waterloo Siskins, playing Junior B hockey in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League when he was 16 and 17 years of age.[1] He was selected by Barrie Colts in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in the 14th round of the OHL priority draft, 237th overall.[1][2] In his rookie season with the Colts, Pearson played on the second and third lines, scoring 15 goals and 42 points in 66 games.[2] On November 19, 2011, Pearson scored a hat trick, including the game winner in overtime, in a 6–5 win over the Ottawa 67's.[3] On March 18, 2012, it was announced that Pearson would miss the remainder of the season and any Colts' playoff games due to a broken fibula.[4] Pearson finished the 2011–12 season third in OHL scoring with 37 goals and 91 points in 60 games. He was named to the OHL's second All-Star Team.[5]

Professional

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Los Angeles Kings (2013–2018)

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Pearson with the Los Angeles Kings in April 2016.

Pearson was selected by the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL) with the last pick of the first round (30th overall) in the 2012 NHL entry draft.[6] It was the third time Pearson had been available to be drafted, going undrafted the first two times.[2] On August 3, 2012, Pearson signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Kings.[6]

In 2013, the Kings recalled Pearson after completion of his first professional season with their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, to be one of their "black aces" on their taxi squad during the Stanley Cup playoffs.[7] On May 18, 2013, he played right wing on the Kings fourth line in his first NHL game in a playoff game against the San Jose Sharks.[8] Pearson scored his first NHL goal on November 14 against Kevin Poulin in a 3–2 win over the New York Islanders.[9] On December 3, Pearson was sent back down to Manchester.[10] On June 13, 2014 Pearson helped lead the Kings to a Stanley Cup victory over the New York Rangers. He scored 12 points in the 24 games it took the Kings to claim the cup.[11]

In the 2014–15 season, Pearson played a majority of the season with Jeff Carter and Tyler Toffoli, with the line being dubbed "That 70s Line" since all three had numbers in the 70s.[12] He was named the NHL's rookie of the month in October 2014.[13] Pearson was injured on January 10, 2015, suffering a broken left fibula during a game against the Winnipeg Jets.[13][14] The injury caused Pearson to miss the remainder of the season.[15] He finished the season with 23 points in 63 games. On April 2, 2015, Pearson signed a two-year contract extension worth $2.8 million.[11]

In October 2016, during the Kings training camp, Pearson was suspended for four games for an illegal hit to the head of Brandon Davidson of the Edmonton Oilers. He missed the final two Kings' preseason games and the first two of the regular season.[16] After returning from suspension, Pearson scored four goals and six points in his four games.[17] As an impending restricted free agent following the 2016–17 season, having established career bests with 24 goals and 44 points, Pearson agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $15 million on May 8, 2017.[18][19] Pearson through the first year of his new contract in 2017–18 season, was one of four Kings skaters to appear in all 82 games, with 15 goals and 40 points.[20] With the Kings off to slow start to start the 2018–19 season, Pearson mirrored the Kings struggles by registering just 1 assist through 17 games.[21]

Pittsburgh Penguins (2018–2019)

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Pearson with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2018.

On November 14, 2018, Pearson ended his seven-year tenure with the Kings as he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for winger Carl Hagelin.[22] Pearson made his Penguins debut on November 15 in a 4–3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, skating on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Patric Hornqvist.[23] He scored his first goal in a Pittsburgh uniform against Carter Hutton, along with his first assist, in a 5–4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.[24] He recorded three goals in his first six games with the Penguins.[25] He played 44 games for the Penguins, scoring nine goals and five assists.[26]

Vancouver Canucks (2019–2023)

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On February 25, 2019, the Penguins traded Pearson to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for defenceman Erik Gudbranson.[26] He made his Canucks debut in a 3–2 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on February 27.[27] He scored his first goal for Vancouver against Darcy Kuemper in the next game on February 28, a 5–2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes.[28]

During the pandemic-shortened 2019–20 season Pearson registered a career-best 45 points in 69 games.[29] He scored two goals and added two assists for his first four-point night in a 5–2 win over the Edmonton Oilers on December 1.[30] On April 8, 2021, Pearson signed a three-year, $9.75 million extension with the Canucks.[29] Pearson finished the 2021–22 season with 14 goals and 38 points in 68 games.[31]

On November 9, 2022, Pearson suffered a hand injury and underwent surgery. On January 12, 2023, the Canucks organization announced via Twitter that the winger had undergone his third hand surgery since November,[32] and would miss the remainder of the 2022–23 season. When asked about the injury on January 12, Pearson's teammate Quinn Hughes stated that it was "not handled properly"[33] but later clarified that he did not intend to blame anyone for Pearson's setbacks saying "I'm emotional just like everyone else. I wasn't trying to direct blame at anyone. I don't think it's really anyone's fault, it's just an unfortunate situation."[34] On January 13, the Canucks began an internal investigation into how the team handled Pearson's injury.[35] It was also reported that the National Hockey League Players' Association looked into the situation.[36] On February 17, Pearson was placed on injured reserve and missed the remainder of the 2022–23 season. He finished the season having played in 14 games, with one goal and five points.[37]

Montreal Canadiens (2023–2024)

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On September 19, Pearson was traded to the Montreal Canadiens along with a 2025 third-round pick in exchange for goaltender Casey DeSmith.[38]

Vegas Golden Knights (2024–present)

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As a free agent ahead of the 2024–25 season, Pearson signed a professional tryout (PTO) agreement with the Vegas Golden Knights on August 20, 2024.[39] Following a preseason campaign in which he scored three points in four games, he was signed to a one-year contract by Vegas on October 4.[40]

International play

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Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Canada

Pearson played for Canada at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he was a part of the bronze medal winning team.[1][41] He was the first member of Team Canada since 2005 to play for the team after being passed over in the NHL draft.[41]

Personal life

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Pearson grew up in Kitchener, Ontario, with his sister Ali and parents Kim and Tim Pearson.[42] His father and sister were both involved in hockey; his father worked for equipment company Bauer Hockey and his sister worked for the Kitchener Rangers.[43]

Pearson married his longtime girlfriend Meaghan Loveday in mid-2018.[44]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2008–09 Waterloo Siskins GOJHL 52 15 33 48 28 15 5 4 9 16
2009–10 Waterloo Siskins GOJHL 51 29 41 70 78 11 5 11 16 20
2010–11 Barrie Colts OHL 66 15 27 42 35 — — — — —
2011–12 Barrie Colts OHL 60 37 54 91 37 — — — — —
2012–13 Manchester Monarchs AHL 64 19 28 47 14 4 0 1 1 4
2012–13 Los Angeles Kings NHL — — — — — 1 0 0 0 0
2013–14 Manchester Monarchs AHL 41 17 15 32 18 — — — — —
2013–14 Los Angeles Kings NHL 25 3 4 7 8 24 4 8 12 8
2014–15 Los Angeles Kings NHL 42 12 4 16 14 — — — — —
2015–16 Los Angeles Kings NHL 79 15 21 36 18 5 1 2 3 2
2016–17 Los Angeles Kings NHL 80 24 20 44 13 — — — — —
2017–18 Los Angeles Kings NHL 82 15 25 40 27 4 0 0 0 0
2018–19 Los Angeles Kings NHL 17 0 1 1 8 — — — — —
2018–19 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 44 9 5 14 13 — — — — —
2018–19 Vancouver Canucks NHL 19 9 3 12 4 — — — — —
2019–20 Vancouver Canucks NHL 69 21 24 45 27 17 4 4 8 4
2020–21 Vancouver Canucks NHL 51 10 8 18 26 — — — — —
2021–22 Vancouver Canucks NHL 68 14 20 34 30 — — — — —
2022–23 Vancouver Canucks NHL 14 1 4 5 21 — — — — —
2023–24 Montreal Canadiens NHL 54 5 8 13 21 — — — — —
NHL totals 644 138 147 285 230 51 9 14 23 14

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2012 Canada WJC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 1 5 6 6
Junior totals 6 1 5 6 6

Awards and honours

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Award Year
OHL
Subway Super Series - Team OHL 2011 [45]
Second Team All-Star 2011–12 [5]
NHL
Stanley Cup (Los Angeles Kings) 2014 [11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Tanner Pearson makes Canadian junior team". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. December 15, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Wharnsby, Tim (June 23, 2012). "Tanner Pearson goes from unnoticed to 1st-round pick". CBC Sports. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  3. ^ "Tanner Pearson does it all as Colts top 67's". CTV News. The Canadian Press. November 19, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  4. ^ Sager, Nate (March 18, 2012). "Barrie Colts' Tanner Pearson done for season (Updated)". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Colts' Pearson named all-star". Simcoe.com. May 11, 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Kings Sign 1st-Round Pick Tanner Pearson to 3-Year, Entry-Level Deal". The Hockey News. The Canadian Press. August 3, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  7. ^ Elliott, Helene (May 18, 2013). "Sharks hoping Kings won't put them in deeper hole". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  8. ^ "Rookie Tanner Pearson ready for NHL debut". Los Angeles Daily News. May 18, 2013. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  9. ^ Dillman, Lisa (November 14, 2013). "Tanner Pearson, Tyler Toffoli, rally Kings to 3-2 win over Islanders". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  10. ^ "Kings Announce Player Transactions". Los Angeles Kings. December 3, 2013. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2013 – via NHL.com.
  11. ^ a b c "Kings sign Pearson to two-year extension". ESPN. Associated Press. April 2, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  12. ^ Johnston, Mike (October 24, 2014). "NHL Stock Report: That 70s Line trending up". Sportsnet. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  13. ^ a b Dillman, Lisa (January 11, 2015). "Kings lose Tanner Pearson to injury, Tyler Toffoli to illness". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  14. ^ "Los Angeles Kings rookie forward Tanner Pearson has a broken left leg, out indefinitely". NHL.com.
  15. ^ "Tanner Pearson, finally healthy, leads LA Kings". Los Angeles Daily News. October 26, 2016.
  16. ^ Dillman, Lisa (October 6, 2016). "Kings' Tanner Pearson is suspended four games, including first two of regular season". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  17. ^ Teaford, Elliott (October 26, 2016). "Tanner Pearson, finally healthy, leads LA Kings". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  18. ^ "LA Kings sign Tanner Pearson to 4-year contract extension". Los Angeles Kings. May 9, 2017. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2024 – via NHL.com.
  19. ^ "Kings re-sign F Pearson to four-year deal". TSN. The Canadian Press. May 9, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  20. ^ "Penguins acquire Tanner Pearson from Kings for Carl Hagelin". Sportsnet. November 14, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  21. ^ Sadler, Emily (October 21, 2018). "The heat is on in LA after awful Kings start to the season". Sportsnet. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  22. ^ "Penguins Acquire Forward Tanner Pearson From Los Angeles Kings". Pittsburgh Penguins. November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018 – via NHL.com.
  23. ^ "Point scores 3 PP goals in 1:31, Lightning beat Penguins 4-3". ESPN. Associated Press. November 15, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  24. ^ "Eichel's OT winner lifts Sabres by reeling Penguins 5-4". ESPN. Associated Press. November 19, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  25. ^ Zupke, Curtis (December 14, 2018). "Former number in hand, Tanner Pearson gets to face his former Kings teammates for first time". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  26. ^ a b "Canucks trade Gudbranson to Penguins for Pearson". TSN. February 25, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  27. ^ "Soderberg scores winner in shootout, Avs beat Canucks 3-2". ESPN. Associated Press. February 28, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  28. ^ "Richardson scores 4 goals in Coyotes' 5-2 win over Canucks". ESPN. Associated Press. March 1, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  29. ^ a b "Canucks, Tanner Pearson agree to three-year, $9.75M extension". Sportsnet. April 8, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  30. ^ Hills, Jason (December 1, 2019). "Tanner Pearson's career night helps Canucks cruise past Oilers". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  31. ^ "Canucks trade forward Pearson, 3rd-round pick to Canadiens for goaltender DeSmith". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. September 19, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  32. ^ Vancouver Canucks [@Canucks] (January 12, 2023). "Additional information: Pearson's surgery yesterday was his second procedure since the original surgery in November" (Tweet). Retrieved February 23, 2024 – via Twitter.
  33. ^ "Canucks' Hughes says Pearson's season-ending injury 'wasn't handled properly'". Sportsnet. January 13, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  34. ^ "Canucks comfortable with handling of Pearson injury, despite setbacks". Sportsnet. January 16, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  35. ^ MacIntyre, Iain (January 13, 2024). "Canucks begin internal investigation around handling of Pearson's hand injury". Sportsnet. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  36. ^ "NHLPA steps in to help resolve Pearson situation with Canucks". Sportsnet. January 14, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  37. ^ "Canucks place forward Tanner Pearson on long-term injured reserve". Sportsnet. February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  38. ^ "Canadiens acquire Tanner Pearson and a 2025 3rd-round pick from Vancouver". Montreal Canadiens. September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023 – via NHL.com.
  39. ^ "Vegas Golden Knights Sign Forward Tanner Pearson to Professional Tryout Agreement". Vegas Golden Knights. August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024 – via NHL.com.
  40. ^ "Vegas Golden Knights Sign Forward Tanner Pearson to One-Year Contract". Vegas Golden Knights. October 4, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024 – via NHL.com.
  41. ^ a b "Pearson, Tanner prospect profile". National Hockey League. April 5, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  42. ^ Brown, Josh (June 17, 2014). "Kitchener native Tanner Pearson looking forward to bringing Stanley Cup home". Waterloo Region Record. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  43. ^ Wharnsby, Tim (October 6, 2017). "Pearson's Kitchener ConnectionN". National Hockey League Players' Association. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  44. ^ "LA Kings Take on Offseason: The Pearson's Wedding Plans". Los Angeles Kings. June 27, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018 – via NHL.com.
  45. ^ "Tanner Pearson is the OHL Player of the Month". Hockey's Future. June 7, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Los Angeles Kings first round draft pick
2012 		Succeeded by
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